Jackie Earle Haley leaves ’em smiling at Atomic Comics

Jackie Earle Haley wears a fierce “face” in “Watchmen” as the brutal vigilante Rorschach. But off-camera, the San Antonio-based, Oscar-nominated actor is all sweet smiles and humble thanks and handshakes.

“It was an amazing turnout,” Haley said after the signing, which had him scribbling on “Watchmen” books, his own Rorschach action figure and just about anything else with a blood-stained happy face button or inkblot mask.

And even though a tabletop sign said “Please no pictures,” Haley obliged snapshots aplenty. So unlike Walter Kovacs, but so like Haley.

Hit that jump for more.

Atomic Comics enjoyed a full house for the afternoon signing, with fans of all ages on hand to meet the much-buzzed about “Watchmen” star.

And I do mean all ages. Brothers Alejandro and Antonio Abarca, ages 8 and 12 respectively, both saw the flick with their father Mark. Yeah, whoa.

Some fans, like Jessica Shabot, 20, were relatively new to comics but really dug “Watchmen” and Haley’s performance. Others, like Sergeant First Class Dale Lawrence, were die-hard comic readers.

Lawrence, 38, noted he had X-Men tattoos of Angel, Beast and Nightcrawler. He also had a first-edition “Watchmen” trade paperback and motion comics DVD on hand for Haley’s John Hancock.

And to think Lawrence hasn’t seen the movie yet. Yeah, whoa again.

Lawrence is in for a treat, especially with Haley’s intense portrayal of Rorschach. Haley said the role involved quite a bit of layers and reconciling the psyche and, as Haley mimicked, a kind of patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time.

Quite a juggling act for such an awesome, albeit unsettling performance. Especially from a man who, based on his earnestness with the crowd today, doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.